Kim Dotcom’s new IP address…Internet Party, that is

Kim Dotcom has long made waves in cyberspace, and is now ready to make a splash in politics. The MegaUpload mogul and alleged internet pirate has launched his own political party just in time to contest New Zealand’s general election in September.

First announced in January, Dotcom’s Internet Party promises free
high-speed internet, a high-tech job boom, restricted government
surveillance and a review of the Trans-Pacific Partnership
Agreement as part of its political platform.

"It is a movement for people who haven't voted before, who
have been disappointed by voting, or who don't like the political
choices on offer," Dotcom said in a statement.

"It is a movement for people who care about a digital future,
and who want a society that is open, free and fair."

In a YouTube video entitled Project Manifesto, the Internet Party
does a somewhat bizarre sendup of a meeting between New Zealand
Prime Minster John Key and US President Barack Obama. In the
clip, an Obama lookalike calls upon a blustering and dimwitted
Key impersonator to destroy the Internet Party’s manifesto,
believed to be stashed away in hardcopy in the internet tycoon’s
home. But when the pair show up on Dotcom’s doorstep, he greets
them at the door, telling them Edward Snowden had tipped him off.

Kim manages to win over Obama over with his revolutionary
platform, though “Obama’s boss” calls to tell the commander in
chief to destroy the document anyways. In the end, Obama defies
his puppeteer on the condition that Kim “makes it
happen.”

To enter parliament, the Internet Party would have to clinch an
electoral seat or cross the 5 percent electoral threshold to find
representation in the 120-member body.

Dotcom, a German citizen who also goes by the name of Kim Shmitz,
does not actually have the right to stand for election in New
Zealand until he becomes a citizen. To even have a shot at taking
part in the election, the party must now sign up 500 members and
register with electoral authorities.

On Thursday, Dotcom told web news portal Stuff.co.nz that a
sitting electorate MP would join the party, though he would not
clarify who the deputy in question was.

Party chief executive Vikram Kumar told the site there are three
more sitting parliamentarians who have expressed interest in
joining the party.

Other candidates would be chosen in a process that was
"almost like an audition," he said.

Kim, who said the party wants to attract “young, new
talent" to the country's leadership, said once members
signed up to the party, they would have the option of expressing
their interest in running for office.

Dotcom said the Internet Party was open to working with any other
party other than Key’s center-right New Zealand National Party.

If we keep getting new member registrations at the current rate
we'll have more members than the National Party in a few days
:) #Technology

Dotcom’s political fortunes, however, could be stymied as a
result of a longstanding legal battle with US authorities, who
are attempting to extradite him to face charges of online piracy,
money laundering and racketeering over Megaupload, which is now
closed.

Under orders from the FBI, the New Zealand government arrested
Dotcom in 2012 at his mansion near Auckland. Dotcom was freed on
bail but his movements have been restricted.

The internet tycoon and three of his colleagues have been
battling US and New Zealand authorities ever since; an
extradition hearing is scheduled for July.

US authorities allege that Megaupload cost film studios and
record companies more than $500 million and generated more than
$175 million by encouraging paying users to share and store
copyrighted material like movies and TV shows.

Dotcom claims Megaupload was merely an online warehouse and
should not be accountable if the content in it was obtained
illegally.

Whether Kim ever manages to run for office remains to be seen,
though he already has one major political victory over Key. In
September 2012, the New Zealand PM was forced to apologize to Kim
after it was discovered that Government Communications Security
Bureau (GCSB) was illegally spying on Dotcom prior to the police
raid on his home.